We are making no stops, other than Houlton High School, while in the USA.
Our agenda on Feb. 27th is as follows:
Have a good breakfast.
Pack a lunch for school.
Pack a lunch for Houlton. No meat, fruit or vegetables.
Pack any snacks that you may want to have on the bus trip, to and from Houlton. No meat, fruit or vegetables.
Students arrive at school as regular. Please do not wear your Show Choir dress to school. Wear regular school day clothing but bring your dress, tights, black shoes, and your comb and hairbrush (for the hairdresser to use).
Go to your homeroom class for attendance and announcements, then travel to the music department.
Hang up your dress in the storage room as you enter. Don't let your things get mixed up with anyone else's. It's a good idea to have your name on all your things.
Put your bookbag at the back of the music room (off to the side so no one has to step over it to get around).
Go to your position.
Warm ups. Vocal, then body stretches.
Move to the theater to review and go over any last minute corrections.
Mrs. Allaby will arrive mid morning to begin hair.
Lunch at 11:45 in the music room.
Lunch over at 12:15. Girls are sent to dress. They will be taking their school clothing with them as we are not sure what time we will be arriving back (border crossings are difficult to predict).
Good time to take pictures for anyone interested - just before we load the bus.
Load the bus at 12:45. Bus leaves 1pm. If it seems we are leaving early, the bus company has assured us that we may need the time due to the unpredictability of crossing the border.
Arrive at Houlton High School sometime after 2pm EST.
Our chaperones will be finding the place where we are to take the choir. Plus look for a place where they can eat their lunch after they are finished performing.
If there is time our students may have a light snack at this time. It all depends on how fast we get through the border.
People who are travelling to see the performance may go to the auditorium where it costs $4 per adult or $3 for students/seniors.
3:25 EST - the choir is taken to the warm up room to prepare for performance.
3:50 EST - Performance and adjudication. Performance time is @25 minutes plus the time the judges take to go over their performance with them.
The choir will then have the chance to have their second lunch while at Houlton High School. Mrs. Baird is making some banana bread, and bagles with cheese or butter to help the students, as they are going to be hungry. If you would like to help her you can contact either of us. This won't be a substitute for a full lunch from home, we're just worried they will be really hungry.
Back on the bus @6:00 EST.
Once we are through the Canadian border we are making one stop at Tim Horton's on the highway just outside of Woodstock. Here the students may purchase a treat and we are allowing them at this time to call home to let you know our ETA which should be just under an hour. Student's without a cell phone may use Mrs. Ross'.
Our arrival back at Nashwaaksis Middle School is expected between 7:30 and 9pm. It all depends on how fast we get through the border.
All documents, letters of consent and copies of birth certificates, etc., are shredded when we return.
The coach we are travelling on has a toilet. Also, we will be watching the movie, "Hairspray" on the way to Houlton. On the way back we will have a selection of movies for them to choose from. They may also take electronic devices but please warn them regarding texting or using the phone while outside the country. We are telling the students that they may have them with them on the bus but not to call until we reach Tim Horton's on the way back. They are not to take them into Houlton High School. They are certainly allowed to play games on them or listen to music. It is very difficult with these devices to monitor texting or calling. I would appreciate your speaking to your child regarding this.
Any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to email me at susan.ross@nbed.nb.ca .
